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Vayishlach: What Makes Rachel the Quintessential Jewish Mother?
“Mama Rachel cry for us again, won’t you shed a tear for your dear children, if you raise your sweet voice now as then, the day will come…” Rachel Imeinu, of all the four Imahot, has become known to us as ‘Mama Rachel,’ the mother of all of Klal Yisrael. Rachel – the woman who…
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Vayeitzei: Why Is Rachel’s Silence Praised?
In Parshat Vayetzei, we are about to witness the marriage of Yaakov, the ish tam to his bashert Rachel, the righteous younger daughter of Lavan. We see up close Lavan’s manipulative behavior and trickery, Yaakov and Rachel’s attempt to thwart it and ultimately, Rachel’s eternal sacrifice for her sister as she gives up being the…
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Toldot: Delving into Yitzchak’s and Rivka’s Marriage
Through the pesukim of the parsha, an image of Yitzchak and Rivka’s marriage emerges. An image which differs greatly from the marriages of the other Avot. Their opposite natures and that of their children presents itself as two different stories for Yitzchak and Rivka. Here, we will explore their marriage and the traits it was…
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Chayei Sarah: Understanding the Essence of Mearat HaMachpela
I have special memories of davening in Kever Machpela, the holy burial site of our Avot and Imahot during my seminary year. I remember beginning my shemonei esrei and the words “elokei Avraham, elokei Yitzchak v’elokei Yaakov” had never felt more real to me. As we read in the parsha about Sarah’s passing and Avraham’s…
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Vayeira: Sarah, the Hostess Par Excellence
The life of Sarah Imeinu was impressive, incredible and inspiring. She was a spiritual-focused woman in a world which denied Hashem, mentor to the many souls who came physically and spiritually hungry to her tent and miraculously became a mother at age 100. Yet, we do not hear much detail about any of these facets…
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Lech Lecha: The Significance of a Name Change
In lashon hakodesh, a name is not merely a label, but a reflection of one’s inner essence…
